How to Set Up a CC3D Quadcopter for One-step Flips

I am new to drones and recently tried flips, and did it successfully with some tutorials help, so just share my experience here. Welcome to discuss and share your ideas here. The accessories links are attached at the end.

OK, let’s go straight to the point – how to set up the CC3D quadcopter for flips and rolls. Follow my steps, you can get it too. I use a semi self-stabilization, here is how to do:

Step 1: Set Mode 2 (Stabilized2)

In OpenPilot, Click Input, Flight Mode Switch Settings, Bank2 of Stabilized2 in Settings Bank. Then set mode to Rattitude/Rattitude/AxisLock in Stabilized2, and Cruise Control in Thrust (Cruise Control will automatic lower the throttle when drone is upside down), then click Save.

Step 2: Advanced Setting:

Click Stabilization, Advanced, Bank2, tick Use Advanced Configuration, then change the value of Rate mode response(deg/s) and Max rate limit (all modes) to 360 in Roll and Pitch (The value is not fixed, you can test and set the most sutiable value yourself, then move to Step 3). Then click Save.

Ps:

1. Max rate limit (all modes), same with that in Rate Mode on Basic page, but this one is a global parameter works in any mode, not like Rate Mode only works in Rate, Axislock, Rattitude. The Max rate limit enjoys a top priority: the Max limit value will be taken even if it’s smaller that of Rate mode.

2. Each reconnection to GCS will untick the Use Advanced Configuration box, and return to Basic Page (Use Basic Configuration). Certainly, the corresponding values in Basic and Advanced page are the same, for example, compare Attitude, Rate in Basic with Attitude mode response, Rate mode response in Advanced (the values in basic and advanced seemed to be different are the same actually just because of different unit, i.e.P and I values of Rate Stabilization (Inner loop) in Basic and Advanced), the Advanced page just has more PID values to set.

Step 3: Expert Setting:

Click Expert, set Mode Transition in Rattitude to 80 as shown above, (Note: Rattitude is semi self-stabilization, which will turn to manual mode if the lever is pulled over Mode Transition’s value), “80” means if lever on transmitter over 80%, turn to manual mode, if less than 80%, return to the original mode. (For beginners, please set to 90 to avoid misoperation in FPV flight)

MaxAngle: the threshold angle where CruiseControl goes into the inverted mode, InvertdThrustRev for direction control, and InvertedPower for the power to flip. The default value is 105, if you want set the drone for fast flips and rolls, set it 90, which will effectively reduce the descending height.

Ps:

1. InvertedThrustRev: if yours is a pitch fixed helicopter (or multicopter), set this to Unreversed.

2. InvertedPower: power output setting in inverted mode. If yours is a multicopter, set it to Zero, so that it will automatic retard throttle in flips.

Step 4: Trial Flight:

④ Keep state of step ③, control the drone to flip 360 degrees, then release Roll or Pitch, or it will fail to do. Besides, use throttle to control the attitude.

Here is my flight video for flips with four different settings.

Step 5: Rate Mode Response: 220 + Max Rate Limit (all Mode): 300

Summary: under the default setitngs, the drone flipped in quite a big curve, it even crashed in the end. Therefore, when fly in default setting, ensure the drone flips at the height above 15 meters!

Step 6: Rate Mode Response / Max Rate Limit (all Mode): 360

Summary: the drone flipped in a samller curve compared with that in default mode. It almost hit the ground in initial flips, because I forgot to advance the throttle before flips. Therefore, pull up and down the throttle first, and then control to start flips, so that the drone will get enough power for a perfect flip. After adopting this method, the flips were perfect in later part(1’05’’-1’13’’).

Step 7: Rate Mode Response / Max Rate Limit (all Mode): 720

Summary: the height descending reduced to half. Larger the Rate mode response value is set, faster the drone will response. Check the video, the drone was hard to control, but the flips were quite easy to do. I personally think the best setting for flips is to set two parameters to 720.

Step 8: Rate Mode Response / Max Rate Limit (all Mode): 800

Summary: the drone responded quite fast for flip commands. You are not recommend to try this setting if you are a newbie, because the drone will be easier to crash in this setting!!!

All in all, the default setting is suitable for beginners to practice, but is not good to realize flips. The second setting is suitable for flip beginners, mind the tips! The third setting is good for skilled pilot to use. While the last one is a nightmare for beginner!

OK, let’s all for the tutorials, welcome to comment or advise. REMEMBER to tighten your battery and battery indicator to avoid being thrown off. Have a good flight!

Step 9: My Qav250 Accessories:

I assemble this Qav250 myself, using CC3D flight controller, which took me 1 hours. Also tried to mount 190 and 210 drones. They are light in weight, so they are quite difficult for flips and will easily get a crash for beginners. So Qav250 with a good weight is a better choice for abecedarian to try flips.

Because I still have some rest accessories at hand after mounting 190 and 210 drones, I just need to prepare some others to get a Qav250.